Gallo Acoustics - The Round Sound?

rkapadia@ROOP · « **on:** 6 Aug 2004, 11:03 am »

Hello all,

We're thinking of becoming a retailer for Gallo Acoustics here in NYC if an interest exhibits itself. Besides the compact Gallo Reference III's, I think the Micros might offer a lifestyle alternative for the "visual conscious (lifestyle oriented)".

Please let me know if you're intersted in any Gallo products. We'll be offering serious incentive to those that help us bring Gallo to the ROOP lineup. As always, please contact with any questions or inquiries. Due to my traveling, email or PM is preferred.

doug s. · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Aug 2004, 03:06 pm »

Quote from: rkapadia@ROOP

Hello all,

We're thinking of becoming a retailer for Gallo Acoustics here in NYC if an interest exhibits itself. Besides the compact Gallo Reference III's, I think the Micros might offer a lifestyle alternative for the "visual conscious (lifestyle oriented)".

Please let me know if you're intersted in any Gallo products. We'll be offering serious incentive to those that help us bring Gallo to the ROOP lineup. As always, please contact with any questions or inquiries. Due to my traveling, email or PM is preferred.

if you could talk gallo into offering an upgraded due w/the reference three specs, then i think there would be a lot of interest. i emailed gallo about this & never got a reply...

regards,

doug s.

WilliamL · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Aug 2004, 03:28 pm »

Cool! Good luck on the sale Roop!

For those of you that don't know, I am getting a pair of these Ref IIIs as well. Can't wait to report back on their sound in an 8th Nerve treated room... (I am going to pair these speaks up with Naim equipment.)

Best,
Bill

audioengr · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Aug 2004, 03:46 am »

Rupesh - great idea. I just auditioned the Ref 3's yesterday. They are really outstanding. Here is what I noticed:

1) positioning is really flexible
2) excellent imaging, both standing and sitting and off-axis - almost like a planar or ribbon
3) very spacious, natural soundfield.
4) good HF extension - lots of air
5) Bass control requires a muscle-amp
6) vocals very natural and smooth

These sound almost as good as my highly modded KEF's and with a huge sweet-spot, (that is using my modded front-end). Highly recommended.

brj · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Aug 2004, 04:18 am »

Roop, hopefully, my questions below on the Ref III's will spur some useful input for you, but if not, I apologize for potentially sidetracking your thread!

That said, I have three questions for you guys...

1) Have any of you heard the Ref III's with the B.A.M. unit? If so, any comments on what it adds?

2) How well treated were the rooms you auditioned the Ref III's in?

3) How big of an amp was feeding the speakers during your auditions?

I auditioned them a couple of months ago and was impressed, but not as completely overwhelmed as I was hoping to be based on all of the reviews. The room I heard them in was far from an ideal acoustic environment, however, and I suspect this lack might have affected the audition - especially since the CDT tweeter is supposed to have a 330 degree dispersion. I also think that when I heard it, it wasn't getting enough power (50 W amp).

There is a lot to like about this speaker (wide sweet spot, advertised bass extension with the B.A.M. unit, compactness, ease of placement, etc.) and I would love to hear it in a better room with different upstream gear.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

whopnyc · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Aug 2004, 07:52 am »

I own a pair of the Ref IIIs as Rupesh knows. They are currently in a completely untreated room with huge sliding glass doors behind the listening position. They sound fantastic driven by a Sim I-5 and Jolida JD-100A CD player. Next week he'll be coming by, hopefully with some room treatments, to deliver a rack to me. I'll let you know my before treatment/after treatment opinions and hope Rupesh will do the same.

In reply to the OP, definitely carry the minis. I've owned them. They've since improved the active sub that goes with them. The Ref IIIs would be in the same large loft space as the VMPS. It would be interesting to hear people's opinions on the two side-by-side. Looks-wise the 2 can't be compared, sound wise...hmmmmm.

nathanm · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Aug 2004, 03:23 pm »

It seems like there is a concern about reflections when faced with the prospect of a wide-radiating speaker like the Gallos (I own the older spheres, not the newer model) and that one might need to go crazy with absorption. I have found the opposite to be true. If anything that cylindrical tweeter performs more like a natural sound source would in the real world. In my case they sounded better in a room with less treatment than in the one with a wall 'o foam. I've got 8 2x4' panels in my living room where the Gallos reside and those really were put there to kill the excessive pingy crap sound you find in any bare drywalled room. They probably aren't doing anything for the bass and there's nothing on the ceiling. Still, the Gallos sound as close to 'real life' as I can imagine in this room. If the new model improves on the elder (and way cooler looking) Solos then Gallo is definitely on the right path. Score one point for the anti-measurement crowd if they indeed tuned these suckers by ear.

But seriously now Gallo, screw the WAF, bring back the sphere\soda can combo! It rocks!

8thnerve · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Aug 2004, 02:47 pm »

Roop,

We just got our Gallo's here in Nashville, and after only 2 days (won't be broken in for about 4 or 5 more) I can say without hesitiation that they are the real deal. Next issue of Absolute Sound will have a review, if it as good as 6moons.com, watch out.

There are just too many nice things to say about them. And Roop, with your interest in lifestyle products, this is one for the history books. Those Refs are so much smaller than EVERYONE thinks, even people who have seen them in person before. If you've never seen them in person, you will flat out fall over when you do. They are TINY, with HUGE sound. Trademark of the line it seems.

Nathan

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Aug 2004, 04:41 pm »

Gallo Reference 3....Small in size (35" tall) , but big in sound. Heard them at the HE2004. Seemed a little bigger with the grill cage in place.......Link here.....

yertletheturtle · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 04:46 am »

I am relatively new to this forum but have been tinkering with a modest system now for about 5 years. I currently own GMA Europa's which I love except for the looks (they prompted a huge argument with my wife)
the Gallos look great.
Let us know if you pick up the line
Dimitri

Jon L · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 06:45 am »

Quote from: doug s.

if you could talk gallo into offering an upgraded due w/the reference three specs, then i think there would be a lot of interest. i emailed gallo about this & never got a reply...

regards,

doug s.

I saw (not heard) the Gallo Ref 3 at Upscale Audio, and they ARE tiny! So tiny that I can definitely see having 5 of them plus a sub for 5.1 home theater with decent WAF even.

Instead of complicating matters with bunch of bass amps for the second voicecoil, I would then run a humongous active subwoofer separately.

Man, are they tiny.

nathanm · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 04:30 pm »

Tiny is good, that way it takes less time for the water to come to a boil!

mca · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Sep 2004, 05:22 am »

Jon,

I asked Gallo that same question and got a reply that they would have a prototype center channel at the Cedia show this month.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Sep 2004, 07:47 am »

for those of you who have heard them, what do you guys think about the midrange and bass performance of the gallo ref 3s? i thought the treble performance was VERY impressive. smooth and detailed...

brj · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Sep 2004, 10:24 pm »

Mad DOg, I didn't realize that you had auditioned the Ref III's. What did you think of the imaging and size of the sweet spot (and how well treated was the room)?